If you are pulling up the tiles in a bathroom anyway, this is the cheapest moment you will ever get to add floor heating. The floor is already open, the tiler is already booked and the electrician is already on site. Done now, heated floors add one step to the job. Done later, they mean ripping the floor up again.
P.A.P. has specialised in floor heating since 1988. We are the exclusive Australian importer of ELEKTRA. Below is what we tell renovators who ring us halfway through planning a bathroom.
Why the bathroom is the room to start with
Tiles feel cold because stone and ceramic pull heat out of your feet faster than timber or carpet. A heated floor fixes that, and it does more than feel nice:
The floor dries quickly after a shower, which keeps mould and damp smells down.
Towels and bathmats dry faster.
There is no heat lamp to switch on and no fan heater taking up wall space.
It runs on a thermostat with a timer, so the floor is warm before you get up and off when you leave.
Which system suits a bathroom renovation
For most bathroom renovations we recommend the ELEKTRA DM20 cable set in a self-levelling compound or a thin screed. The cable is laid on the prepared floor at 100 mm spacing, the self-leveller goes over it, and the tiles are laid on top as normal. It suits concrete floors and most timber floors that have been sheeted to take tiles.
DM20 is a twin-conductor cable, so it has a single cold tail running back to the thermostat and very low electromagnetic fields. It carries a 20 year warranty.
One rule matters more than any other: the cable goes in self-levelling compound or screed, never straight into the tile adhesive. Tile adhesive is not designed to carry a heating cable.
How it fits into the renovation
Before demolition. Send us the plan or a sketch with measurements. We work out the heated area, leaving out the shower base, vanity, toilet and any cabinetry, and size the right cable for the room.
Rough-in. Your electrician runs a supply to the thermostat position, usually near the door, at the same time as the other bathroom wiring.
After waterproofing and floor preparation. The cable is laid out at 100 mm spacing, kept 100 mm clear of walls and fixtures, with the floor sensor between two runs. An insulation resistance test is taken before installation.
Self-leveller or screed. The compound is poured over the cable. A second insulation resistance test is taken after installation to confirm the cable is undamaged.
Tiling. The tiler lays the tiles as normal once the compound has cured.
Commissioning. The electrician connects the thermostat and sets the program.
Floor heating adds one step to the job rather than a separate trade. We provide the layout, the installation guide and phone support.
What it costs to run
A typical Australian bathroom has about 3 square metres of heated floor once the shower, vanity and toilet are taken out. That draws about 600 W, which is roughly 16 to 20 cents per heating hour depending on your tariff. Most owners run it 4 to 6 hours a day in winter and turn it off in summer. We quote every job from your plan.
Running costs are low because a bathroom floor is small and the thermostat only heats it when you need it. Our running cost guide sets out real figures using Australian electricity tariffs: How much does electric floor heating cost to run in Australia?
Thermostats
Every DM20 floor needs a thermostat with a floor sensor. That stops the floor from overheating and protects the tiles. A programmable model warms the floor before the morning shower and switches it off during the day. Wi-Fi models let you control it from your phone.
Common questions
Can I add floor heating under the existing tiles?
No. The cable has to go under the tiles, so the old tiles must come up. That is why a renovation is the right time to do it.
Will it heat the whole bathroom?
The warm floor makes the whole room noticeably more comfortable. How much heat you need depends on the size of the room, the insulation and how cold your winters are, so we check that when we size the cable.
Does it work under timber or vinyl?
For bathrooms we recommend tiles or stone, which transfer heat best. If you are planning a different floor finish, call us first and we will check it suits.
Who installs it?
A licensed electrical contractor connects the system. Many tilers and electricians lay the cable themselves using our layout and guide.
Planning a bathroom renovation?
Send us your plan and we will work out the heated area and the right cable. Call (02) 6242 9310, email sales@elektra.net.au or info@papheatingsolutions.com.au, or contact us for a free layout and quote. You can also size a cable yourself with our cable selection tool, or read more about under-tile floor heating.